Luxury crown cushion



Nov. 29, 1966 w. H. JESSUP LUXURY CROWN CUSHION Filed Aug. 30, 1965 m Ma 5 E J H. a W W ATTORNEYS United States Patent O 3,287,750 LUXURY CROWN CUSHION Walter H. Jessup, Hickory, N.C., assignor to Dixie Foam Rubber, Inc., Hickory, N.C., a corporation of North Carolina Filed Aug. 30, 1965, Ser. No. 483,705 1 Claim. (Cl. -355) This invention relates to a luxury crown cushion, and more particularly, to a cushion for use in upholstered furniture which is characterized by an initial softness upon depression followed by increased firmness upon further depression.

It is an object of this invention to provide a cushion for use in upholstered furniture which has enhanced aesthetic appeal, as having a high crown appearance, and being characterized by an initial softness upon depression followed by increased firmness upon further depression.

A more specific object of this invention is to provide a luxury crown cushion for use in upholstered furniture in which a pair of cushion members of substantially identical width and length dimensions are urged into a crowned position by an insert of polyester fibrous textile material positioned between the cushion members.

A further and more specific object of this invention is to provide a luxury crown cushion of the type described in which a side edge band member encircles the periphery of a pair of superposed cellular elastomeric cushion members, in order to join the members together about their periphery and provide a regular and smooth side surface for the cushion.

Some of the objects of the invention having been stated, other objects will appear as the description proceeds when taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of the cushion of the present invention;

FIGURE 2 is a side view, in section, of the cushion of FIGURE 1, taken substantially along the line 22 in FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 3 is a perspective view of a corner portion of the cushion of FIGURE 1, as uncovered;

FIGURE 4 is a perspective view, in section, of a corner portion similar to that shown in FIGURE 3; and

FIGURE 5 is an exploded view of portions of three elements, in section, to be assembled into the cushion of FIGURE 4.

Referring now more particularly to the drawing, a luxury crown cushion, indicated generally at 10, is there shown which is suitable for use in upholstered furniture and embodies the present invention. More particularly, the cushion is characterized by an initial softness upon depression followed by increased firmness upon further depression. cushion 10, which imparts the desirable novel characteristics, may best be understood by discussion with reference to a sectional view through the cushion (FIGURE 2), which makes clear the elements of the cushion construction and the manner in which the cushion is assembled.

The cushion 10 comprises a pair of generally rectangular cellular elastomeric cushion members 11, 12 which have substantially identical dimensions of width and length, and each being of a predetermined thickness. The various dimensions are not critical, except as permitting superposition of the members. The cushion members 11, 12 may be of any suitable cellular elastomeric material, such as latex rubber, polyurethane or vinyl, and constructed in accordance with any generally known practice, but are preferably formed by slitting a pincore molded body. Thus, the cushion members 11, 12

The particular construction of the 3,287,750 Patented Nov. 29, 1966 have a number of spaced apart openings 13 extending therethrough, formed by pins present in the mold as the body is molded, which may be disposed in the cushion member in a regular or random pattern. Such holes, as provided in a pin cored cushion member, provide for more free circulation of air, to tend to make the composite cushion structure less retentive of odors.

In order to obtain the desired characteristics for the cushion 10, and in accordance with the present invention, the cushion members 11, 12 are superposed and a bat 14 of polyester fibrous textile material is interposed between the cushion members 11, 12. More particularly, the bat 14 may be of Dacron, a brand of polyester fibrous textile material commercially available from E. I. du Pont de Nemours and Co., Inc. Preferably, the bat 14 has width and length dimensions only slightly less than those of the cushion members 11, 12, and initially is of a uniform thickness. The bat 14 of polyester fibrous textile material is more readily crushable or compactible than the cellular elastomeric cushion members 11, 12 which provides the initial softness followed by increased firmness to the cushion 10.

In assembling the cushion 10, in accordance with the present invention, the peripheral opposed face portions of the cushion members 11, 12, in the area where the cushion members do not directly oppose the bat 14, are secured together by suitable means, as by being coated with a suitable adhesive layer 15 (FIGURE 5) and being brought into contact. In so doing, the bat 14 is compressed around its periphery, relative to the central portion of the composite cushion construction, and functions to urge the central portion of the cushion members 11, 12 outwardy into a generally convex position (FIG- URE 2), thus providing the effect known in the furniture trade as a high crown.

Thereafter, means is incorporated for providing a smooth side edge surface and further securing together the cushion members 11, 12, as a side edge band 16 positioned encircling the secured together composite structure of cushion members 11, 12 and bat 14. The side edge band member 16 has a predetermined width slightly less than the combined thicknesses of the cushion members 11, 12. The inwardly facing side surface of the side edge band member 16 and the upper and lower edge surfaces thereof are provided with an adhesive coating 17, and the side edge band member 16 is positioned engaging the cushion members 11, 12. By urging the side edge band member 16 laterally into engagement with the cushion members 11, 12, the surfaces of the band member carrying adhesive coating 15 are brought into contact with the elastomeric material cushion members 11, 12 and the cushion members 11, 12 are compressed somewhat and the edge portions of the band member 16 are slightly flattened to bring the outer edges of the band member 16 and the respective upper and lower edges of the cushion members 11, 12 into registration, as shown in FIGURES 2 and 4. The members are thusly secured together at those surfaces and provide a smooth peripheral edge for the cushion 10 by a smooth blending from the side edge surfaces into the upper and lower surfaces, and thus a more pleasing appearance for the cushion 10. Further, the increased area of adhesive joining the members of the cushion 10 provide assurance that the cushion will not easily separate, and imparts favorable characteristics of long useful life.

In using the cushion 10 produced in accordance with the present invention, initial depression of the cushion compresses or compacts the fiber bat 14, providing an initial characteristic of softness. Thereafter, when the bat 14 can not be compressed or compacted further, continued depression will begin compression or compaction of the cushion members 11, 12. Inasmuch as these members are more rigid, and thus less easily compressible, the characteristic of increasing firmness upon further depression appears;' In the drawings and specification there has been set forth a preferred embodiment of the invention and, although specific terms are employed, they are used in' a generic and descriptive sense only and not for purposes'of limitation, the scope of the invention being defined in the claim:

I claim:" g A luxury crown cushion for use in upholstered furniture and characterized by an initial softness upon depressionfollowed by increased firmness upon further depression,'said cushion comprising:

' a pair of cellular elastomeric cushion members having substantially identical width and length dimensions --and each being ofa predetermined thickness and initially of rectangular cross-sectional configuration, said members being superposed and adhesively joined together about the periphery of their opposed faces 20 3,188,665

to define therebetween a pocket, I a bat of polyester fibrous textile material having'width and length dimensions only slightly less than those of said cushion members and initially of uniform thickness andbeing positioned as an insert within said pocket, s'aid' bat being compressed around ity'p'eriphery upon insertion'and functioning to urge the central portion of said members outwardly into a generally convex position and to impart characteristics of initial softness, and

a sideedge band member having a predetermined width less than the combined thicknesses of said cushion members and initially of rectangular crosssectional configuration and encircling and being adhesively secured to the periphery of said cushion members, said members together defining a rounded edge with smooth blending adjacent surfaces.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,866,497 12/ 1958 Struthers S-36l 2,874,758 2/1959 Jones 5345 6/l965 Snyder 5-335 FRANK B. SHERRY, Primary Examiner;

A. M. CALVERT, Assistant Examiner. 

